Brick-drier



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

A.. F. BARRN.

(No Model.)

BRICK DRIBR.

Patented Feb. 6, 18911;l

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(No Mode.)

A. F.. BARRON. :81110K mum.

Patented Fh, 1894.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ANDREW F. BARRON, OF AUSTIN, ILLINOIS.

BRICK-omen.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 514,406, dated February 6, 1894.

Application led May 4, 1892. Serial No. 431,751. (No model.)

To a/ZZ whom t may concern.-

Be it known that I, ANDREW F. BARRON, of Austin, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Brick-Driers; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description ot the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use it, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of thisispecitication.

My invention relates to an improvement in brick driers; and it consists in the novel features of construction which will be fully described hereinatter and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

The object of my invention is to so arrange the air passages and dues in the driervthat the bricks at the inlet end of the drier are subjected to the least amount of heat, but as they are moved forward on the trucks they are subjected to heat of greater volume, thus bringing them gradually to the maximum degree of heat, consequently avoiding any baking tendency which is apt to presentitself when in all parts of the drier the bricks are subjected to the same amount of heated draft.

.A further object is to construct a drier which may be used with an up or down draft as may be required.

Referring to the accompanying drawings,- Figure 1, is a longitudinal sectional view of my improved drier. Fig. 2, is a horizontal plan view on the line w-az of Fig. 1. Fig. 3, is a cross sectional View on the line y-y of Fig. l. Fig. 4,is a longitudinal sectional view on line Z-Z of Fig. 1.

A represents the door or foundation of the drier, and B a series of brick walls supported thereon which extend rearward nearly to the end of the drier. On these walls are placed the tracks C, upon which the cars move which carry the bricks to be treated. The tracks are preferably built so as to slope rearward thus facilitating the passage of the cars through the drier.

D represents plates which are arranged in pairs and which extend outward from the adjacent Walls B, toward each other forming the longitudinal spaces E, and the cross spaces F. The former are narrowest `at the inlet end of the drier and gradually increase in width toward its rear end. The spaces F, in like manner are narrowest at the left hand end of the drier and widest at theopposite end of the series.

Gr represents an upper air space which is separated from the drying space proper by the ceiling or partition II. This partition is provided with the vertical openings I, Vwhich extend entirely across it and which are controlled by the sliding dampers J.

The main drying space I will designate by the letter K, While the lower one I will letter L. vAll three of these spaces G, K, L, cornmunicate at their forward ends With the vertical flue or stack M. The communication between the top lue and the latter is controlled by the damper N, while the drier space K, is shut oft therefrom by the vertically moving door O, moving upward on the inner side of the due by means ot weighted ropes. The lower space is closed from the said flue by the damper P.

The walls B, do not extend quite to the rear of the structure so that a space Q, is formed which extends entirely across the end ot the drier, and into this space air is introduced through the inlet R, by means of a blower or other similar device. The ends of the Walls adjacent the inlet are enlarged and the spaces between them consequently contracted for the purpose of makingan even distribution of the heat there-through. It is apparent that the blast oty air will be strongest nearest the inlet and the entrances to the spaces in close proximity to it are thus reduced in size so that the air may be uniformly distributed between the walls.

In operation the trucks loaded with green bricks are run into the space K, the sliding door O, and the inlet door M', being opened to permit them to enter. The said doors are then closed and the damper I), turned down while the damper N, is opened placing the top chamber G, in communication with the stack M. The dampers J, at the forward end of the drier are extended nearly across the openings I, while at the rear end the said spaces are entirely open. Air is then introduced from the source of supply into the space Q, from which it is distributed evenly between the Walls B. From thence it rises through the longitudinal spaces E, and the IOO spaces F; but these spaces being largest at their rear or lower ends the greater amount of heat will be forced into the space K, at this point, and the exits from this space being largest directly over the points where the inlets are the largest it will be seen that the air will be passed upward directly into the space G from the points where it enters the space K. This upward movement is created by the upward draft in the stack IWI, with which the said chamber L, is in communication. While air is moving vertically through the space K, its entire length, yet the greatest volume is passed at the rear end so that the bricks there situated are most effectually and thoroughly dried, the hot air evaporating all moisture and carrying it out through the stack'. The bricks in the forward end of the drier, where a smaller amount of air is being passed, are being gradually heated and the drying process started, but this is more of a preparatory treatment before subjecting them to the hot blast at the opposite end. As the air inlets increase gradually in Width and not abruptly the volume of heat passed gradually increases as the rear end of the drier is approached. The trucks within are moved along slowly, the space being of sufficient length to accommodate a number, while only one is discharged at a time from each track through the door G', making room for a fresh truck at the opposite end of each train.

For creating a down draft the inlet pipe R, is closed, and the damper N, lowered while the damper P, is raised placing the lower air space L, in communication with the flue M. Air is then forced or admitted into the space G, through the upper inlet T, and the said space being now closed with the ue, the air must to escape pass downward and in doing so reaches the bricks in the same manner as before described, subjecting those in the rear end to the greatest amount of heat.

A suction is created in the lower chamber L, by its communicating with the stack M, and in consequence the air is drawn downward rapidly through the spaces K and L, an d discharged through the chimney.

When the bricks are introduced into the drier in a very green condition it often happens that their upper or lower sides dry out thoroughly according as an up or down draft is employed while their opposite sides still retain considerable moisture. In such cases I have found it of great advantage to subject the bricks to both draft-s by successive operations. By so doing both sides are subjected to the hot blast and equally dried.

The dampers J, may be operated by any suitable mechanism, but I here show simply bars extending outward for sliding them. By means of these dampers I am enabled to concentrate the hot draft at any desired point in the space K by opening the spaces I at one end and closing them at the other or vice versa, or by closing them at both ends and allowing the center spaces to remain open for the passage of the draft. By thus manipulating the dampers I am enabled to direct currents of hot air' vertically through the bricks or obliquely and if it is found that at one point the drying process is progressing too slowly more heat may be easily directed to that point and thus evenly distributed. Vhile the drier normally affects the bricks in the rear end of the space K to a greater degree than at its front end, yet if it is desired to dry and remove a whole train at one time the dampers may be so adjusted as to distribute evenly the heat to all parts`of the space.

My source of heat supply, not shown, is preferably placed to one side of the drier no portion being beneath it. The air for drying is preferably heated by means of a steam heater, and if waste heat from adjacent kilns, or boilers, can be collected I pass it through the steam heater for super-heating. If a portion of this partially heated air can be collccted a great saving in fuel for the heater is effected.

The drier may be providedwith any desired form of roof and either a blower or pump may be employed for forcing the air into the drier. Or the stack or Hue may be constructed of suflicient height to create a draft without the employment of the above mentioned devices.

Having thus described my invention, I claiml. A drier structure having longitudinal walls on its bottom which extend nearly to its rear end and which form the base of a drying chamber, horizontal plates extending longitudinally with the walls to which they are secured, the spaces between the adjacent edges of the plates gradually increasing in width toward the rear end of the drier, an exit at the top of the drier, and a source of heat supply which is introduced beneath the said plates and at the point where the said walls terminate, substantially as shown and described.

2. A drier structure composed of three apartments arranged vertically, a flue at the forward end of the structure with which the upper and lower compartments communicate, longitudinal walls in the latter which form the base of the central compartment or drying chamber, plates projecting from the adjacent sides of the respective walls forming air passages between their edges, dampers which control openings in the partition between the center and upper compartments and a source of heat supply, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I affix mysignature in presence of two witnesses.

ANDREW F. BARRON.

Witnesses:

DANIEL J. MGELHERNE, GEORGE A. TRUDE.

IOO 

